Not Quite Lost [Elegant]
Mar 22, 2012 18:30:31 GMT -5
Post by gxk on Mar 22, 2012 18:30:31 GMT -5
Blue-green eyes were cast skyward. Fluffy clouds drifted lazily across blue as the wind ruffled his hair; he couldn't help but feel the presence of his two older siblings. The mere thought of them brought him to tears for what seemed like the hundredth time this week. Allowing himself to fall to his already bruised knees he whispered, "You got what you wanted Naida. You're back with him, he'll take care of you the way I never could..." His eyes caught sight of the pants of those walking past him, whispers drifted past his ears but he never really heard them. As far as the teen was concerned Naida had committed suicide when she decided to enter the Games.
What family ever has to endure this? Two of four children dead in the Hunger Games. Nobody has luck that bad except the Gardez family. Raviv took a shaky breath into his lungs. He had known from the moment his sister's name was read from that tiny slip of paper she was doomed. Naida had no fight left in her at the point of her reaping. And that was what hurt the most, she had wanted to die. Her whole reason for living seemed to vanish after the Games took her older brother and two friends from her. Trying to explain to Ily what happened was impossible. The young girl had still waited for her sister to walk back through the old oak door of their modest home. It wasn't until Naida's body was sent back to them in a drab wooden box that Ilayda realized she was gone for good. His fingers curled tightly into his palms. She didn't do anything worth dying for... She never wanted to hurt anyone. Seeing his own timid sister cut someone's hand off had been enough to make him lose his lunch and skip dinner. When the box was opened to give her a more suitable container to be buried in her once tan skin was a ghostly white, all her obvious injuries had been sown up, but what struck him like a ton of bricks was the faint smile on those dry cracked lips.
The sound of those working around him brought Raviv back from dream land. Or more like nightmare land. The earthquake in District One had been the perfect way for him to get out of Four for a while. Clear his mind and try to piece back together what he had left. Young but experienced in his trade Raviv had been working on the boats and water rescue. He didn't really care for the people of the first District, they reminded him of the Capitol who tore his family apart like hungry wolves on a lamb. But something drew him here to help. He could not save Raiden or Naida, but pulling these drowning citizens out of the water was something in his power.
The devastation was immense. Huge building crumbled into jagged pieces littered the roads looking nothing like their former glory. Shattered glass was sprayed every which way. Pipes and dams had burst leading to the flooding. The water was murky with debris and earth that it has swept up on its course. It reminded Rav of what his father always told him "Man is no match for the might of the ocean. He will always bend to its will no matter his own strength." This wasn't the ocean per say, but it was the same idea. When he announced he was leaving his home on the sandy beaches of Four to help with the earthquake his father said Raiden would have done the same thing.
Those words still rung in Raviv's head. His father normally tried to avoid the topic of his first son. His perfect son. Raiden had always been surrounded by friends and talented at everything he tried. Rav was less fortunate. Trying to be friendly but still somewhat awkward he settled for just his family as real companions. But who was left in his family to turn to? His devastated parents, Ily who was now his soul responsibility? His promise to Naida was that he would take care of her no matter what happened. And now I'm running from my problems. I've always been the coward. Damn it to hell Naida, why did you have to go?
With a small groan he rocked back from his knees onto his back simply staring upwards. He received disapproving glances from those who knew he was supposed to be on the job. At this moment in time he was simply existing. The buildings that had managed to stay mostly standing towered over him. Every color brick from gray to violet seemed to have a place in District One construction. Flamboyant rich bastards... The wetness on his tanned cheeks felt cool as the wind tickled him. The breeze lacked the salty smell of home, but right now he wanted to be as far from home in mind and body as possible. Still he was haunted by his last moments with his sister...
"I have to go Rav. Be a good boy and take care of Ily." She sounded so normal. Her insanity seemed to vanish at the thought of finally being able to join Raiden. Bitter tears stung his eyes. Were they not good enough for her? Why couldn't she be happy with the family she had left? Seeing his tears Naida wiped them away with a single finger before ruffling his hair and kissing the top of his head. It was the same Naida from before Raiden's Games. And it killed him. Maybe if he'd done something, anything differently trying to help her she wouldn't have resorted to this. The peacekeepers came in to lead her away, his protest died in his throat at the look she shot him. Instead all he could manage was, "Bye sis, we'll miss you." Why was it when he had so much to say nothing would come out?
When would these memories leave him alone, when would he be able to forgive himself for letting Naida go? It was too much for someone so young. Raviv was breaking from the inside out and he had no one to turn to for comfort. [/justify][/blockquote][/size][/color]
